The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 305
every individual in his turn, with a certain ludicrous expression
in his countenance, but fixed his eye in particular upon Lismahago,
who presented him with a pinch of snuff, and when he took it in
silence, ‘Sir Thomas Bullford, (said he) I am much obliged to you
for all your favours, and some of them I have endeavoured to repay
in your own coin.’ ‘Give me thy hand (cried the baronet); thou
hast indeed paid me Scot and lot; and even left a balance in my
hands, for which, in presence of this company, I promise to be
accountable.’—So saying, he laughed very heartily, and even
seemed to enjoy the retaliation which had been exacted at his own
expence; but lady Bullford looked very grave; and in all probability
thought the lieutenant had carried his resentment too far, consider-
ing that her husband was valetudinary—but, according to the
proverb, he that will play at bowls must expect to meet with
rubbers.
I have seen a tame bear, very diverting when properly managed,
become a very dangerous wild beast when teized for the entertain-
ment of the spectators.—As for Lismahago, he seemed to think the
fright and the cold bath would have a good effect upon his patient’s
constitution; but the doctor hinted some apprehension that the
gouty matter might, by such a sudden shock, be repelled from
the extremities and thrown upon some of the more vital parts of the
machine.—I should be very sorry to see this prognostic verified
upon our facetious landlord, who told Mrs. Tabitha at parting, that
he hoped she would remember him in the distribution of the
bride’s favours, as he had taken so much pains to put the captain’s
parts and mettle to the proof.—After all, I am afraid our ’squire
will appear to be the greatest sufferer by the baronet’s wit; for his
constitution is by no means calculated for night-alarms.—He has
yawned and shivered all day, and gone to bed without supper; so
that, as we have got into good quarters, I imagine we shall make
a halt to-morrow; in which case, you will have at least one day’s
respite from the persecution of
Oct. 3. J. MELFORD